The Rejection at Nazareth

Today's Reflections 

       

The Rejection at Nazareth 

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Lk 4:24-30

²⁴[Jesus] said [to all in the synagogue at Nazareth], “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. ²⁵Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. ²⁶It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. ²⁷Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” ²⁸When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. ²⁹They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. ³⁰But he passed through the midst of them and went away.

THEY… DROVE HIM OUT OF THE TOWN. Jesus’ return to his native Nazareth is recorded in all three Synoptic gospels. Luke places the incident at the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry to present the program of that ministry: the fulfillment of the oracle of the prophet Isaiah about the Lord’s “Anointed” who brings glad tidings to the poor, the prisoners, the blind, and the oppressed (cf 4:18-19). In all three accounts, the people of Nazareth initially welcome the native son, but later they reject him. In Luke, the people are especially enraged at Jesus’ suggestion that God took care of pagans before the people of Israel. Jesus impresses upon his townsmen that they cannot have a monopoly of God and of him as a prophet.

The people of Nazareth first criticize Jesus for his unimpressive background (cf 4:22). They also take offense at him for not giving first importance to his native place. They take pride in the fact that they are God’s people. Jesus punctures their pride and reminds them that God cares for everyone.

The biggest disability is a negative attitude.

Don’t forget to look at the bright side of things.